The Art and Science of Moving Brush

Guy Meilleur · Oct 8, 2004

As with climbing, a lot of energy can be wasted in the process of moving brush. Inefficiency can lead to less profit to go around, unsafe working conditions and bad vibes on the job. A new groundie may benefit if we share techniques for moving bush.

#1. Move piles, not sticks. The Plains Indians used a travois to move their gear around. It was basically two long sticks on the ground, crossing where the load was to be picked up, and spread wide on the other end. The load gets stacked between these two and that way a lot can be moved with a little effort.

I'm the top climber in my enterprise, but I like moving brush. Any activity done well can be a joy; any activity done poorly is a pain.
Anyone else want to help the struggling newbie from NY by sharing their tricks of the brush-moving trade?

MasterBlaster · Oct 8, 2004

I call that injun two stick thing a 'cradle limb'.

John Stewart · Oct 8, 2004

Draggin brush sucks I agree but you can do it faster. Longer branches on the bottom of the pile and then can drag the whole pile out instead of just one branch in each hand. If the pile is to heavy or wet throw a sling around the pile and hang on to the sling instead of the branches. You will be suprised how much more weight you can pull hangin onto a strap. If your chipper won't eat large stuff

, drag it out large anyways and buck it up at the back of the chipper. Less trips out and no sawdust to clean up in the back just behind the chipper

Later
John

ORclimber · Oct 8, 2004

Take as much as possible without tearing up the landscape. If a limb lands on a shrub, lift it straight up to minimize damage. If working in wet turf try to take different paths so you don't wear a muddy path in the lawn. Take narrower loads through tight spots to prevent damage to paint/fences/ shrubs. If you can move more volume with a tarp or garbage can, use them.

rb_in_va · Oct 8, 2004

How about throwing a tarp down and directing debris towards it. That way you're not handling every single twig.

John Stewart · Oct 8, 2004

Tarps are great but couple of problems they get al ripped up and I get over zealous when loading them and I end up either killin myself draggin it or have to un load some
That sucks!
Later
John

Ax-man · Oct 8, 2004

Originally posted by Guy Meilleur

#1. Move piles, not sticks. The Plains Indians used a travois to move their gear around. It was basically two long sticks on the ground, crossing where the load was to be picked up, and spread wide on the other end. The load gets stacked between these two and that way a lot can be moved with a little effort.

____________________________________________________

Guy, your forgetting one thing with this method, the horse. I don't think anyone here has the strength or remotely even cares to play the horses role using this method. In the book Arborist Equipment they show a customized wagon to move brush piles out of backyards. At least this is a step forward using wheels instead of dragging poles that just adds more weight and friction for the task at hand.

We have on occasion if site conditions permit. layed an old rope out on the ground, girth hitch or half hitch the longer bigger limbs, pile the smaller stuff on top, get three or four piles tied up and move it forward with a p/up, looks like a wagon train of brush piles coming out of a backyard, works great especially if it is an uphill grade, that would tire anyone quickly.

Larry

John Ellison · Oct 8, 2004

One mule pulling an old car hood.

Have two hoods so one can be loaded while the other is unloaded. Less effort, and lots more fun.

John

DDM · Oct 8, 2004

SkidSteer With a grapple Bucket.

Guy Meilleur · Oct 8, 2004

Re: Re: The Art and Science of Moving Brush

Originally posted by Ax-man
[QUOTE Guy, your forgetting one thing with this method, the horse. I don't think anyone here has the strength or remotely even cares to play the horses role using this method.

I do; I do it all the time. Note I'm talking about sticks, not logs. "Playing the horse" is not demeaning at all; it builds stamina (which a good climber needs) and moves large quantities with less effort.

Great ideas for the sawboss folks; keep em coming!

Proj Eng · Oct 8, 2004

I'm sure evryone knows this one but instead of putting limbs in all the way to the feed wheels or cutting area of the chipper, put a bunch in at once and keep feeding the hungry chipper with longer branches. Shorter branches on longer ones so it's one continuous discharge of chips. Only the big material should slow it down, and also give you enough time to go get more. Plus save one long limb for the end so you don't have to clean out the hopper. Though jammed chippers could be one of the biggest hold ups, so avoid that. I'm sure with time each person learns the machines capabilities and avoids the hang ups.

MasterBlaster · Oct 8, 2004

http://www.***************/groundman.htm

Guy Meilleur · Oct 8, 2004

Thanks Butch! I just printed out a copy and it's going into the glovebox. Next time there's a need to I'll highlight the relevant section and make sure it's reread.

MasterBlaster · Oct 8, 2004

Hey Guy, I guess you didn't see this thread? I went back and saw that you didn't comment, so maybe you haven't seen it. Towards the end Glen presents it as a cool zip file that you where you can turn the document into a neat booklet form. Check it out!

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14578

Dadatwins · Oct 8, 2004

Originally posted by Mike Maas

When the climber makes his last cut, grab the tarps and get them to the chipper.

Don't forget to have them folded and ready to spread out at the next 12 trees for after lunch.

MB thread on being a good groundman covered everything anyone needs to know about dragging brush and keeping the jobsite safe and cleaned up.

NeTree · Oct 8, 2004

Originally posted by Guy Meilleur
I'm the top climber in my enterprise,

According to who?

Tom Dunlap · Oct 8, 2004

I DO!

Do ya wanna make sumpin' of it?

Guy's a one-horse op so he has seniority, or is that senioritis?

Tom

NeTree · Oct 8, 2004

Gypo Logger · Oct 8, 2004

I'm the top brush mover around here and don't anybody forget it!
Ease of removal has alot to do with the size and where the limbs were cut. If larger limb are viewed as small trees, then the larger body wood should be processed immediately or dragged/ carried or javelined to where they will end up. Also if the terminal branches of the limb are nipped off at a "Y", then several can be hooked on the wrist, keeping the hands free for more litter. The trick is to make as few pieces as possible with the smaller stuff. Anything that is good for fuelwood should be processed then and there on the job site unless a truck with a grapple is handy. So there!
John the Groundie

Dadatwins · Oct 8, 2004

Ummmmm? I never quite thought about brush draggin like that, thanks for making that much clearer.<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_6_2v.gif' border=0></a>

The Art and Science of Moving Brush

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